Landry Shamet eyes ‘next step’ with Knicks return unknown after painful injury

SAN ANTONIO — The first time Landry Shamet’s shoulder dislodged from its socket, he said it felt like being shot.

The second time?

“Not quite like getting shot in the arm,” he said, “a few steps down.”

That’s part of the good news. This dislocation wasn’t as bad as the previous one.

The other encouraging development is Shamet, who spoke Wednesday for the first time since sustaining the injury to his shooting shoulder, said the rehab is progressing and he’s on a path toward returning.

When Shamet plays again, however, remains unknown.

The 28-year-old is back shooting and participating in other basketball activities — almost six weeks since the injury — but not yet cleared for contact. That’s “the next step,” Shamet said, adding, “we’re happy where things are at.”

He’s also happy about the decision to avoid surgery, which would’ve ended his season.

“You never really know. I had a lot of confidence in the rehab I did last year, and I was able to start doing things sooner in the rehab process than I kind of expected this time,” Shamet said. “So, if anything, that kind of just reassured the importance of rehabbing right and taking care of things. That’s really the biggest thing that gave me confidence. In the middle of it, though, there’s a lot of other stuff going on and you don’t really know until — you know, trust our doctors, talk to them and get all the information you need.”

Shamet’s arm popped out of its socket Nov. 22 in Orlando, where he collided with the Magic’s Wendell Carter Jr. in the first quarter and darted to the locker room, right arm limp.

He hasn’t played since. Initially, there was certainly the specter of surgery since it’s the best way to avoid future dislocations.

Shamet wouldn’t discuss that inner debate, if there ever was one.

“My intention was to rehab and get this thing right. And you make that decision, and there’s not a gray area or back-and-forth considerations beyond whatever you decide to do,” he said. “So that was it, that’s where we’re at.”

Shamet first dislocated his shoulder in October 2024, and he also rehabbed it back then without surgery — returning before Christmas and cracking the playoff rotation in the conference finals.

His injury to return-to-play spanned about 10 weeks, or about four longer than where he sits in his current rehab.

Shamet re-signed with the Knicks in the summer but on a non-guaranteed contract.

He had an important supporter in coach Mike Brown, who quickly made Shamet a spot starter and regular part of the rotation.

Shamet’s contract becomes guaranteed Jan. 10, and the Knicks would have to waive him by Jan. 7 so he can clear waivers.

Cutting Shamet would’ve created a roster spot and cap space to use on a free agent, but the Knicks’ depth has stood strong in his absence and the nonsurgical route assured New York was keeping him.

“That’s great to know,” Shamet said Wednesday. “No complaints with the organization, they’ve been great. The support staff and everybody involved, they’re committed, they’ve been great, and they’ve been working closely with me.”

Brown made his preference clear.

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“Landry is a really big part of what we’re doing,” Brown said in November, “and I’ll give up my salary for him.”

The coach reiterated why on Wednesday.

“[Shamet] and [Miles McBride] are our best on-ball defenders,” Brown said. “Now Kevin [McCullar], I haven’t seen a ton of him, but he may be in that mix, too. But they’re our best on-ball defenders when it comes to ball screens. Their technique is extremely high level. … Landry is tough, he’s smart. On the defensive end of the floor, he’s going to try to do every little detail at the highest level of efficiency he can. With a competitive spirit defensively. And then offensively, man he runs. He puts a lot of pressure on the defense. He’s shooting [42.4] percent from the 3-point line!”

Without Shamet for over five weeks, the Knicks benefitted from inspired runs by McBride and Tyler Kolek. They’ve more than tread water.

Still, Shamet is considered among the top perimeter defenders and will likely have a role when he returns.

And when that happens, Shamet understands there will be an adjustment period.

“Of course, even if you’re out for a week there’s some level of an adjustment period,” said Shamet, whose injury occurred during a peak point of his play, just eight days removed from dropping a career-high 36 points at MSG and three days after becoming the clutch hero in a win at Dallas. “You can’t replicate playing basketball. So even if it’s something as simple as your conditioning. However small or big of an adjustment there is, there will be some adjustments. It’s hard to tell right now what those will be. But I anticipate some. It would be naive to say there wouldn’t be any.”